Members

Alzheimer's Society Liverpool and Knowsley

Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading support, care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. We provide information and support for those with any form of dementia and their carers. We advise and train professionals working in the field, fund research, run quality support and care services, and campaign for improved health and social care and greater public understanding of dementia.

Updated:

7 October 2015

Location:

North West

Sectors:

Charity

Local Alliances:

Liverpool Dementia Action Alliance

1. Action Plan

1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?

We work in partnership with others both in Liverpool and nationally to ensure that support is always available for people with dementia and we are committed to ensuring that people receive a timely diagnosis, raising awareness and advocating the rights of people with dementia. We will achieve this through our highly skilled and trained staff, continuous dementia support provision, dementia friendly communities work and research involvement.

2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?

Dementia is higher on the public and political agenda than it has ever been especially with the Prime Ministers Challenge on Dementia now reaching to 2020. We have already seen action across England to begin implementing the National Dementia Strategy and have participated actively in this work in Liverpool. We will now build on this momentum by supporting the DAA in creating a broad church of individuals and organisations committed to action.

Stigmas around dementia remain even though public awareness of dementia is rising. There is limited public understanding and appreciation that it is possible to live well with dementia and what actions can radically improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. We are actively working to raising understandings of dementia among the public and health and social care sector.

People with dementia often do not experience a timely diagnosis and families often report not receiving the information and support they need when they need it, to begin living well or living better with dementia. To reduce social isolation and loneliness we provide direct support to carers and people with dementia and involve them in all aspects of our work, from planning, to delivery and evaluation.

Funding into dementia research is limited compared to other diseases and conditions.

Member website

2. Actions

Provide specialised dementia support and information to people with dementia and carers

Our highly skilled dementia support staff provide individually tailored dementia support and information to people with dementia, carers and families in Liverpool. We will continue to develop this service to reflect local need and advances in dementia understandings.

We provide support via telephone, email and face to face ensuring that people are supported to understand information and can ask questions about Dementia, it's progression, coping techniques, legal and financial issues and many other topics, signposting to further local support where needed.

We also send a regular e-update for people affected by dementia and interested local professionals, signposting to local events, support and dementia related information.

Status:

Continue working to raise public awareness and understanding of dementia

Our outreach staff are all Dementia Friends and are continuously promoting public and professional engagement in the programme to breakdown stigmas around dementia and promote inclusion. Staff members deliver Dementia Friends awareness sessions to all interested local groups including local schools, housing providers, residential care settings and community groups.

We also provide a Carer Information and Support Programme designed to help carers better understand dementia and develop coping techniques to support themselves and the person they care for.

Work proactively with the Liverpool Dementia Action Alliance to support Liverpool in becoming a Dementia Friendly Community

We will work collaboratively with fellow DAA members in Liverpool and take an active role in the Liverpool DAA agenda and driving forward the key areas of work, focusing on our strengths as a dementia support specialist and service provider working with many people affected by dementia in the city, who may be unable to engage directly with the Dementia Action Alliance.